Water-operated circuit closer



Nov. 192 7.

' B. T. ROODHOUSE WATER OPERATED cmcurr CLOSER Filed March 22. 1926 Patented Nov. 8, 1927.

T E T F F I Q E BENJAMIN T. RODIDHOUSE, OF WILMETTE, ILLINOIS. Y

WATER-OPERATED CIRCUIT GLOSER.

Application filed March 22, 1926.

My present invention relates to the provision of a water operated circuit closing device and has special reference to the provision of such a device which may be placed so as to detect leaks.

In all systems employing a water circulation, leaks which sometimes are extensive and create great damage invariably commence very gradually, sometimes taking days, weeks or even months in enlarging to such an extent as to create appreciable loss or damage.

My device is intended to be placed at joints or other places where leaks may commence with a'suitable electric circuit, or circuits, in which an alarm is included, so that the presence of the leak will be indicated at its inception.

I accomplish the foregoing object by means of the instrumentalities illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of one form of water operated circuit closer;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical, longitudinal section through Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a modified form i of a water operated circuit closer;

Fig. 4 is a central vertical, longitudinal section of the structure shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a circuit in which either of the above illustrated circuit closers may be included; and

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a mounting clip.

The circuit closer illustrated in Figs. 1

and 2 is suitable for installation in a drip l4, pan or other receptacle and consists Qf- 'alf short length, say two inches or thereab'outs. of glass or other suitable tubing, 6. Located within the tubing are one or more layers of an absorbent material, 7, such as blotting paper, absorbent cotton, or wool asbestos.

Around the central portion of the absorbent material. or between the layers there of. if more than one layer is employed, is provided a dry salt, 8, such as sodium chloride or ammonium chloride. or in fact, any salt which, with water, will form an electrolyte.

To each end of the absorbent material is clipped by a suitable piece of copper or brass. 9. a length of conductor, 10, which is brought around to the outside of the tubing and there secured by solder. or in any other suitable way. to a metallic conductor band 11.

This metallic conductor band, of course, can be entirely dispensed with but it is con Serial No. 96,404.

placcd the salt, 16, as heretofore described in connection with the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

About the outside of the rolled or wrapped absorbent material, 15, is coileda conductor Wire, 17.

The interior conductor wire, 14, and the exterior conductor wire, 17. may be respectively secured to conducting caps, 18 and 19, provided upon the respective ends of the device.

Any suitable circuit may be employed in connection with the structures heretofore described such as a battery Axor any other source of electrical supply, with leads B and C taken from the respective poles of the source of supply. In either lead A or B E included a visual or audible alarm device Across the leads B and C are situated the devices heretofore described. a conductor of each said device being secured to opposite leads firornrtheflsource of supply. --'Th"e absorbent material, and the dry salts. heretofore mentioned, are not conductors of electricity, but as soon aswater is brought into contact with the ab orbent material it is carried thereby to. the salt which the absorbent material retains. The saltis thereby dissolved forming an electrolyte and thereby providing a conductor for the electricity between the terminals of the circuit closer. I

I have found that in using common salt (sodium chloride) the dry salt is of such high resistance that no appreciable current will flow through it until water is added, but. nevertheless, it appears to me to be desirable to arrange the elements so that the absorbent material holds the salt away from the electrodes until the water operates upon the device.

A fairly pure grade of common salt is neither hydroscopic nor deliquescent and therefore no inadvertent operation of the de vice need be anticipated on account of damp Having described my invention What I weather or temperature changes. claim as new and desire to secure by Letters In using this invention with sprinkler s s- Patent is: terms it is well known that the water carried A water operated circuit closing device 1 5 by such systems is usually highly impure comprising spaced conductors connected by from sedimentation and other causes so that non-conducting, absorbent material and a the devices may be operative in such condry salt, which, with water, will form an nection without the presence of the salt, but electrolyte, held in position and separated I, nevertheless, prefer the presence of the from said conductors by said absorbent ma- 10 salt as adding considerable dependability in terial.

operation. BENJAMIN T. ROODHOUSE. 

